Annals Of Work Exposures and Health最新文献

{"title":"A digital survey to understand the use of advanced materials in the United Kingdom.","authors":"Samantha Hall, Delphine Bard, Cyrill Bussy, Martie Van Tongeren","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the health risks associated with advanced materials will help with their safe development, use and commercialisation, which will contribute to the future economic needs of the UK and a net zero future. To undertake targeted, relevant research in this field, it is important to first identify the main advanced materials that are commercially manufactured and used in the UK including those at a commercialisation pilot stage. To achieve this, a survey was developed and distributed widely across a network of advanced materials stakeholders between June 2023 and January 2024. The survey asked respondents to identify the category, physical state and scale of advanced materials with which they are working, and the tasks and activities undertaken. Fifty two anonymous responses were received from a broad range of organisations representing all stages of the lifecycle of advanced materials. All surveyed material categories were represented in the responses. Almost 40% said that they worked with composite materials with the single category selected most frequently being fibre-reinforced composites. The most common physical state of the advanced materials handled was \"powder\" followed by \"liquid\" and the range of quantities handled per year had a median mass and volume of 1,000 kg and 10,000 L respectively. Many different materials were identified as \"soon to become commercially available\", with 5 of the 16 responses including graphene.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147589583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing occupational exposure models: insights from a case study.","authors":"Remy Franken, Ilse Ottenbros, Calvin Ge, Wouter Fransman, Tanja Krone","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag019","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Currently used models in occupational exposure assessment are mostly mechanistic-based and their performance varies. The usage of more advanced modeling approaches such as machine learning (ML) or hybrid modeling approaches such as Bayesian Networks could improve accuracy of exposure predictions. Within this study, a case study was conducted where 5 different ML or hybrid modeling approaches were used to redevelop the \"asbestos removal exposure assessment tool,\" an existing mechanistic exposure model, and their performance was compared. Multiple Linear Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machines, Bayesian Network, and Neural Network models were developed using the same dataset and model determinants used to develop the mechanistic model. Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Machines performed best with regards to accuracy, followed by Bayesian Network, Multiple Linear Regression, the original model, and Neural Network. Such models show a promise for the development of more accurate models, but their limitations need to be considered before they can be implemented in a regulatory context. For these models, a trade-off exists where transparency in decision-making is traded against accuracy. Hybrid models such as Bayesian Networks might be a solution for this trade-off as expert knowledge and data-driven approaches are combined in a transparent model.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13036375/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147580330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to \"concerns regarding the association of occupational testicular radiation exposure with offspring sex ratio\".","authors":"Yasukazu Hijikata, Tsukasa Kamitani, Yosuke Yamamoto, Takahiro Itaya, Yoshinori Matsuoka, Koichi Morota, Haruki Funao, Masayuki Miyagi, Tadatsugu Morimoto, Haruo Kanno, Akinobu Suzuki, Yoshihisa Kotani, Ken Ishii","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag015","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147519627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trunk and upper arm postures and movements among older workers in physically demanding occupations.","authors":"Charlotte Lewis, Farhad Abtahi, Mikael Forsman, Jens Wahlström, Andreas Tornevi, Pontus Öhrner, Viktoria Wahlström","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Associations between work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and awkward postures and repetitive movements have been established. Action levels for elevated arms, trunk flexion, and fast movements have been suggested. With today's prolonged working life, older workers in manual jobs may be at increased risk for WMSDs. The aim of this study was therefore to assess postural workload in older workers in four physically demanding occupational groups using technical measurements and compare the exposure of the groups with each other's and with the action level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Postures and movements were measured for the right upper arm and the trunk using inertial measurement units (IMUs) during 3 workdays in construction workers (n = 35), kitchen workers (n = 37), cleaners (n = 27), and assistant nurses (n = 25), all over 50 years. Angle and angular velocity were computed, and time exceeding suggested angular cut-offs was assessed. Group mean and variance components within and between subjects were estimated in one-way random effect models. One-way ANOVA tests were conducted to compare exposure variables between the occupational groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Construction workers spent more time with arms >60° than other occupational groups (7.9% vs. 4.4-5.6%) and >90° (2.8% vs. 1.0-1.3%). Across groups, a substantial share of days exceeded suggested action level for arm elevation >30° (8.0-24.6%) and >60° (6.3-22.7%). Cleaners had the highest 50th percentile trunk flexion (15.3°), while construction workers spent the most time with trunk flexion >45° (12.6%) and >60° (7.4%); exceedances of recommended levels occurred in up to 39% of days. Kitchen workers and cleaners exhibited more time with fast arm movements (31.8-35.6% vs. 23.9-24.0%). Considerable variability was observed both within and between individuals.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In the included occupational groups, in workers over 50 years, arm elevation and trunk flexion may often exceed recommended levels. Since the physical capacity is decreasing with age, this indicates elevated musculoskeletal risks, and there is a clear need for targeted ergonomic measures to support sustainable working lives.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108441/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Descriptive analysis of exposure levels of organophosphate esters among firefighters, paramedics, and office workers.","authors":"Fateme Kooshki, Yizhi Zhang, Joseph O Okeme, Nikhil Rajaram, Roel Vermeulen, Miriam L Diamond, Paul A Demers, Victoria H Arrandale","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are a class of chemicals used as flame retardants and plasticizers in many products and industries. While research shows that OPE exposure is widespread in the general population, studies on the working population are scarce, despite their potential of being at higher risk of exposure due to their handling of OPE containing materials and products across their lifecycle.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to characterize OPE exposure among firefighters, paramedics, and office workers, to describe internal exposure levels, evaluate changes over a 24-h period including a work shift, and determine whether levels differ between occupational groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants provided two spot urine samples over the sampling period; one at the beginning of their shift (day 1) and another after 24 h (day 2). Twelve urinary OPE metabolites (mOPEs) were quantified. mOPE levels were described, and differences between groups and changes over time were examined using ANOVA and bivariate statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty firefighters, 12 paramedics, and 13 office workers participated (78.5% male; mean age = 41 years). The highest geometric mean (GM) concentrations were observed for diphenyl phosphate (DPhP) (day 1: 1.09 µg/g-creatinine [GSD: 2.38], day 2: 1.20 µg/g-creatinine [GSD: 2.22]) and bis (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP) (day 1: 0.91 µg/g-creatinine [GSD: 3.04], day 2: 0.84 µg/g-creatinine [GSD: 3.17]). BDCIPP GM levels were significantly higher among firefighters (day 1: 1.25 µg/g-creatinine, day 2: 1.09 µg/g-creatinine; P-values < 0.001) and paramedics (day 1: 1.15 µg/g-creatinine, day 2: 1.23 µg/g-creatinine: P-values < 0.01) compared with office workers. While firefighters tended to have higher levels of mOPEs than other groups, not all differences reached statistical significance. Office workers tended to have higher DPhP levels than paramedics (day 1: office workers: 1.13 µg/g-creatinine, paramedics: 0.79 µg/g-creatinine, P = 0.565; day 2: office workers: 1.05 µg/g-creatinine, paramedics: 0.78 µg/g-creatinine, P = 0.597).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results confirm consistent exposure to a subset of measured OPEs among these occupational groups. Concentrations of BDCIPP differed across occupations, suggesting potential exposure to different sources in those workplaces. However, the personal and work-related factors that contribute to these differences remain unclear. Given the concerns regarding possible adverse health effects related to OPE exposure (eg TDCIPP), more effort is needed to identify determinants and reduce occupational exposure to OPEs.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111486/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermal comfort, health, and performance effects among outdoor workers in northern Sweden.","authors":"Rebecca Tapper, Edit Zimmerman, Hans Pettersson, Tiina Maria Ikäheimo, Jens Wahlström, Albin Stjernbrandt","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate subjective differences in thermal comfort, health, and performance outcomes between different outdoor professions and the sexes. The current study also aimed to explore whether thermal comfort affected health and performance outcomes.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A questionnaire was used to collect data from three different professions: preschool (n = 65), park and maintenance (n = 36), and power grid workers (n = 31). The questionnaire contained items related to background variables (sex, age, body mass index, tobacco use, pre-existing diseases, and clothes provided by the employer), thermal comfort, self-assessed health, and performance outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings show that women, to a greater extent than men, experience cold-related discomfort while working in cold environments. Cold sensitivity was most common among park and maintenance workers (57%) and power grid workers (47%). Raynaud's phenomenon and abnormal cold sensitivity were most common among park and maintenance workers, with a prevalence of 31% and 56%, respectively. Statistically significant differences were also found in all reported performance outcomes (concentration, endurance, mobility, strength, and speed) between the different professions. Associations between cold-related discomfort and an increased reporting of health symptoms and a decrease in performance outcomes were found.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There were differences in perceived thermal comfort, health, and performance outcomes between different outdoor professions and sexes. The associations between cold-related discomfort, cold-related symptoms, and decreased performance indicate a need to implement cold risk management to ensure a safe work environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13089684/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147715981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Concerns regarding the association of occupational testicular radiation exposure with offspring sex ratio.","authors":"Ichiro Yamaguchi, Hasan Jamil","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag016","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147632022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of calibration models for low-cost PM2.5 sensors in high-concentration occupational environments.","authors":"Runcheng Fang, Scott Collingwood, Kerry Kelly, Darrah Sleeth","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Low-cost PM2.5 sensors are increasingly used for ambient and indoor air quality monitoring, but their performance in high-concentration occupational environments remains uncertain. This study compares linear regression (LR), polynomial regression (PR), and random forest (RF) calibration models for low-cost PM2.5 sensors operating in a controlled high-concentration chamber. This study assessed the calibration performance of low-cost aerosol sensors (LCS) by employing LR, PR, and RF models across various aerosol (PM2.5) concentration ranges. Conventional LR models demonstrated solid performance when dealing with lower concentrations (0 to 150 µg/m3), but their accuracy diminished when confronted with higher concentrations. On the other hand, RF models continuously demonstrated better performance over all concentration ranges, making them potentially more appropriate for occupational situations with higher and fluctuating aerosol levels. PR models exhibited intermediate performance, surpassing that of LR but falling short of the robustness demonstrated by RF. The study highlights the importance of using modern calibration methods such as RF in locations with high concentrations to enable accurate aerosol monitoring using LCS. These results could lead to the development of efficient and cost-effective methods for monitoring air quality using LCS for high concentration environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147727936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing a job exposure matrix with subject-specific information to assess combined exposure to benzene, toluene, and xylene in a case-control study.","authors":"Melissa C Friesen, Shuai Xie, Sarah J Locke, Dalsu Baris, Molly Schwenn, Nathaniel Rothman, Alison Johnson, Margaret R Karagas, Stella Koutros, Debra T Silverman","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We modified an existing job-exposure matrix (CANJEM) to estimate the combined exposure to benzene, toluene, and xylene, which are highly correlated (hereafter, BTX), and integrated subject-specific occupational information to assess BTX exposure for participants in a bladder cancer case-control study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We linked CANJEM to the lifetime occupational histories of subjects in a population-based case-control study of bladder cancer. We derived CANJEM-based estimates of the probability, intensity, and frequency of BTX exposure by assigning the highest rating observed among the benzene, toluene, and xylene CANJEM metrics. We used subject-specific exposure information in the occupational histories and exposure-oriented modules to refine the CANJEM-based BTX metrics when confirmatory exposure information was identified (hereafter, hybrid BTX metrics). We compared agreement between the CANJEM-based and hybrid BTX metrics at the job- and subject-level using kappa for the ordinal probability metrics and Spearman correlation for the continuous intensity and cumulative exposure metrics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The hybrid BTX approach increased 7% and decreased 5% of the CANJEM-based BTX probability ratings at the job-level and 16% and 7% at the subject-level, respectively. The CANJEM-based and hybrid BTX metrics identified 3.2% and 6.8% of the job records and 13% and 24% of the subjects as having a high probability of BTX exposure, respectively. The BTX-exposed subjects identified through the hybrid approach generally had lower cumulative exposures than those identified solely using CANJEM. CANJEM-based and hybrid BTX metrics had moderate agreement at the subject-level (probability: kappa = 0.62; cumulative metrics, Spearman correlation = 0.61).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Supplementing a JEM with subject-specific exposure information identified within-job exposure heterogeneity that was not captured by using only a JEM.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13020535/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147519860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to \"Occupational physical behavior in eldercare workers: moving beyond description toward health implications\".","authors":"Nestor Lögdal, Svend Erik Mathiassen, Jennie A Jackson, David M Hallman","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag018","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag018","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13036372/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147580321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}